Conservatories - not just a 'box' on the back of your house.

A conservatory doesn't have to be some featureless white framed 'box' on the back of your home.

With a little imagination and forethought, you can have something that not only looks fantastic, but becomes a useful everyday space, you'll want to live in.

Let's think about the look. Looks are everything and if your conservatory is to have that wow factor, then you need to think about such things as the balance of space between indoors and what's left of your garden, the colour of the conservatory frame and even it's height.

'use a higher roof'

For example, choosing a design with a higher roof might help the conservatory to blend in with existing dormer windows - especially if you choose a similar / same colour for the finish.

Don't be tempted to go big on the conservatory at the expense of leaving you with no garden.

There are lots of ways you can get this 'balance' right on the inside too. Use same/similar floor coverings or colours so that the seam from house to conservatory is as seamless as possible. You can also try opening up as much of the old wall as possible and if you have the opportunity and budget for a conservatory that takes in an entire corner of your home, then the added work in opening up both walls will be well worth it.

Remember, with the easy availability of bi-folding doors (concertina like operation of individual door panels to create a large opening space), it's possible to open up larger expanses beyond the usual patio doors, yet still be able to make the join between conservatory and house secure, or open up more of the conservatory to the outside.

Vaulted roofs are another trend that's becoming very popular as more and more companies start offering Orangery designs. A vaulted roof will add extra height to your design and become a talking feature with guests in its own right. A vaulted roof can also make a narrow design seem much wider.

'solid walls'

If you're planning on using your conservatory as a sitting room or kitchen, then you might want to consider adding a solid wall to the design. Kitchen units and appliances can butt up against a wall without any unsightly cables or pipes on display from the outside. You'll also provide the perfect platform to attach outside extractor hoods and fans too.

If you're planning a sitting room, then again, a solid wall gives you the ability to hang large flat screen tv's and provide an exhaust point for fireplaces etc. not to mention making cabling easier to hide.

There's loads more ideas and ways of designing a conservatory so that it becomes anything but a box on the back of your house. Discuss your ideas and wish list with your conservatory company.

Conservatories are a great alternative to a traditional extension - especially if you've got a 'dead' outside corner of your property that you want to turn into valuable living space.

*This story first appeared in our January 18th homeowner newsletter. Click here to read the full newsletter.

picture credit: Better Homes

Conservatories with a difference

As the Summer holidays draw to a close, it suddenly seems like the nights get dark very quickly, making the garden virtually unusable outside the weekends.

Which makes it fairly unsurprising that conservatory enquiries pick up at the as homeowners begin to miss having their own little slice of outdoors, and look for ways to share and enjoy their gardens the whole year round.

With the incredible range of designs available these days, having a conservatory really can make you feel like you’re living in the garden – albeit behind the latest in thermal glass engineering.

Whilst the more traditional Victorian, Edwardian and gable-end styles are all readily available and do provide very good value for money – especially given the extra floor space they add to a typical property – there’s always new styles and fashions around, and we know you’re after the best. If you’re after something a little different or individual, then take a look a these:

Tiled Roof Conservatories.

In Scotland, a sunroom will generally have a ‘traditional’ tiled roof, rather than the polycarbonate or glass roofs favoured by the English.

Recently, though, tiled-roof conservatories are beginning to grow in popularity south of the border as well. They usually fall under the same planning rules as a glass conservatory, and can add an air of traditional respectability to your conservatory.

Orangeries

When we talk about orangeries, we’re not talking something the size of the Botanical Gardens at Kew here (although if you have the space, why not!). No, we’re talking about new designs and production methods making these stylish and contemporary additions to your home very affordable as well as becoming increasingly available.

The designs main feature is an all glass/polycarbonate roof which sits like an extra tier above the main structure. Traditionally to let more light in, these ‘extra tiers’ of glass can really add that touch of class to your living space. No wonder they’re so popular.

Extensions with bi-folding doors

Not a conservatory in the strictest sense and extra planning considerations may have to be made, bi-folding doors have opened up previously dark areas of your home and given rooms a new lease of life – by joining the outside with the inside in one very unique door.

If you’ve not seen bi-fold doors in action, then let me explain. Imagine the old concertina / folding doors from village halls etc that could partition a room? Bi-folding doors work in pretty much the same way. A string of individual door panels, hinged together and fitted into a track top and bottom. Each door can be folded back in turn so you can open up as much or as little as you want.

Imagine getting up for breakfast, seeing the beautiful day outside and fancying your morning cuppa alfresco? No more backwards and forwards with trays and chairs, just open the ‘wall’ and sit at your table as normal. Glorious.

Bi-folding doors are usually available in uPVC or aluminium, depending on the span (uPVC is stronger over greater spans), and even a 3 fold door can make a tremendous difference to the amount of light getting inside your home, not to mention the flexibility to open up the whole space. They’ve been used to great effect in rooms adjoining patios, swimming pool enclosures and even cafe’s and restaurants have seen the commercial benefit of being able to open and expand into the outdoors as easily as opening a door.

Just a few ideas to wet your appetites and who knows, within a few months, you could be enjoying the great outdoors without having to leave your cosy warm home.